Try Nicole Joraanstad's Sport: Curling

Curling
is a fun sport that's like shuffleboard mixed with ice skating. Teams
take turns trying to get the curling stone (or rock) from one end of
the ice to the other. Seventeen chatted with professional curler Nicole Joraanstad at the Nike Summit to find out all about this cool sport.

17: How did you get into curling?

Nicole Joraanstad: My dad played and competed on a national
level. So when he wanted me to curl, I was like "I don't know!" I lived
in Seattle where curling is even less known than in the Midwest where I
live now. I tried it out and got on the junior team, and went to
nationals in '96 with a little bit of success. I was like, Wow, I'm able to travel and compete at a level I probably wouldn't have otherwise, so that's what got me hooked.

17: What's your training schedule like?

NJ: Curling is a little different than other professional
sports and athletes. I have a full time job, too. I wake up at 7am and
go to work. During the curling season, I typically curl at lunch, so I
take a longer lunch than everybody. I go throw rocks in the afternoon
where the ice is the best and then I go back to work. After work, I
usually run five to seven miles and do some sort of circuit training
and always end with a core workout.

17: Can anyone try curling?

NJ: Absolutely! The USA Curling web site has a link for the US club so you can look for places to play in your
area. The community is always welcoming to bringing in new people.

17: What's your favorite part about curling?

NJ: I think the thing about curling is it's a team sport. The
girls I curl with, we're all best friends. And it's a sport that you
can always learn at and learn something new from and be at any age to
play.

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